How I did it: I made a decision to let go of resentment. I untied myself from the thoughts & feelings that bound me to the offenses committed against me.

I started saying a quote from Martin Luther King to myself every day: "He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."

I read scripture: Luke 17:3, Matt. 18:21-35, Eph. 4:32, John 20:23, Luke 23:24

I thought about what happened & wrote it down.

I chose to forgive each thing I wrote down.

I said the words "I forgive (so & so) for (such & such).

I made a positive list of the good things in my life from that person & about that person & thanked God & that person for each item. This freed up my spirit by refocusing my thoughts from anger to gratitude. (Thanking God for the good things that came from that season of your life with that person.)

Since it can't be just a prayer & has to be an action, becuase things that are just words & are not implemented are empty; I went to the people if I could & forgave them face to face. 

I realized that forgiveness isn't giving them an open door to relationship either...it's my choice what kind of relationship I wanted with that person after I forgave them. If I choose to continue life with them, that's fine. If I don't, that's fine too. The important thing & my responsibility is to forgive. Sometimes it's impossible to talk to the person you need to forgive...for me, one of them is passed away. But I leave what I can't change with God & do the best I can with the best of intentions & motivations as possible.

I listened to my Pastors' sermons on forgiveness & took notes. :) I can give you full recount if you like. Msg. me if so.

 

Lessons & tips: Forgiveness is a process that starts with a decison to forgive. Then comes the words "I forgive you" out loud. Then comes the repeating it every time the offense comes to mind until the feeling follows the word! Stand on the word for your freedom!

Resources: Jachin Mullen, Worship Leader, Word Of Life Red Deer (great sermon on forgiveness)
Bible, NLT & Amplified (Joyce Meyers) translations

Feb 24, 2009, 07:00AM PST | 4 comments | 3 cheers